Che Hoon Jeong Our Choice Notes - Forests Problems of deforestation: l The CO2 emission from deforestation is second for the greatest source of global warming pollution (covering 15~23% of entire emission annually). l CO2 emission from “destruction and burning of forest” is greater than “carbon emission coming from cars and truck of the world”. l Loss of habitat for animals living in the forests. l Climate change (respiration cycle disturbed = irregular rainfall, temperature increase) Statistic: Deforestation in forests
l Every second: Slightly more than 1 acre of forests is cleared (43,560 square feet = 4 046 square meters). l Every day: 100,000 acres (4,356,000,000 square feet = 404 685 642 square meters) l Every Year: 34,000,000 acres (an area the size of Greece)
l Only half of the forests exists, which we had 300 years ago.
Deforestation Purpose l Farmland l planting agriculture l Cattle (ranches) Causes of deforestation:
To overcome poverty and population growth in poor countries (provide farmland, place to live to eliminate overpopulation etc.)
Globalized marketplace for cheap prices of wood, palm oil, beef, soybean, sugarcane etc. produced in the cleared land
Failure to value living forests rather than the profit earned by the destruction of it.
Failure to reach a global agreement to put a price on carbon (emission).
Corruption/ignorance to existing laws designed to prevent deforestation
Significant Idea: Industries/communities values economic profit over preservation of forests.(Leading to deforestation) Deforestation leads to multiple climate crises:
Carbon contained in the trees are released to the atmosphere
Trees loses partial ability to reabsorb CO2 as forests no longer pull CO2 from the air, once destroyed
Major countries for deforestations: (mostly tropical and subtropical countries) Brazil, Indonesia.
l World Resources Institute:satellite data shows over 60 percent of deforestation in the world occurs in Brazil and Indonesia.
Brazil:
Deforestation purpose:20% of Amazon is already destroyed for cattle and crops Amazon l “Lungs of the Earth” = conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen l Home for uncountable amount/species of organisms. l Uncivilized natives become hard to sustain themselves (continue tradition etc.)
Indonesia
Deforestation purpose: palm oil plantation. l 80% of palm oil of the world comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. l 88% of the forests is destroyed illegally, usually i protected land Why palm oil plantation? Brings massive economic profit (billions of dollars revenue), since it is used for: l Food l Biodiesel fuel l Provides job for workers l Bear fruit for 30 years (long term continuous profit) It is believed that biodiesel fuel decrease the amount of carbon emission by using less fossil fuel mixture, but actually through calculation, the deforestation to make palm oil plantation has far more carbon emissions. Palm oil plantation (deforestation) leads to habitat loss for living organisms. Orangutan: l Lose habitat l Decrease of population (endangered) l Animal abuse (getting shot, sold or put in cages) Despite these problems:Indonesian official policy calls for tripling of palm oil plantation by 2020. (Major concern)
Dr.Willie Smits:
Rainforests have self-perpetuating water cycle:
Water transpires from trees and vegetation
Condenses into clouds
Falls down wind
Deforestation breaks this cycle, resulting in: l Increased temperatures l Decreased rainfall l Irregular rainfall. In inverse, Reforestation helps restore the natural rain-cycle. By reforestation it benefits for: l Restoration of natural rain-cycle l Decreased temperatures l Provide habitat for organisms (orangutan) l Provide jobs locally l Plantation of some agriculture (placed crops between trees) n Reduce competition between trees: fastens reforestation n Brings agricultural profit
The Sixth Great Extinction
50% ~ 90% of all species on Earth is found in forests.
Deforestation destroys habitat for organisms
Shrink in animal species effect other species (chain-reaction)
Unusual rich reserves of biodiversity (forests) are being destroyed as animal habitat shrinks = Sixth Great Extinction
Economy:
A hectare (2.5 acres) of trees = 300$ profit
Destruction of 1 hectare of land (trees) = 15,000$ worth of carbon released into atmosthpere.
Vulnerability:
2.5 °C(4.5 °F) rise in temperature: l Forests lose ability as net absorbers of CO2 l Become net contributors of CO2
Already started to occur in the world.
Canada and the U.S are major examples l Unbalanced species (Beetles) à destroy more trees as it is not held back by sufficient amount of cold days (due to rise of temperature) l Increased wild fire rates – warmer temperature reduce soil moisture and expose trees to drought and beetles.
Benefits for decreasing deforestation: l Decrease CO2 emission l Preservation of Earth’s biodiversity l Reduce temperature extremes l Provide income – when managed properly l Reduce soil erosion l Enhance availability of clean water l Prevent desertification l Protect against coastal erosion l Control avalanches l Provide habitat for wildlife
Major points highlighted according to this note relevance (details this note contains) Changing Deforestation Patterns
Less-developed countries earn from profits made by the clearance of forests.
Wealthier countriesàprovide aid to less-developed countries to reduce poverty and other issues in exchange of deforestation.
Chapter 9
Che Hoon Jeong
Our Choice Notes - Forests
Problems of deforestation:
l The CO2 emission from deforestation is second for the greatest source of global warming pollution (covering 15~23% of entire emission annually).
l CO2 emission from “destruction and burning of forest” is greater than “carbon emission coming from cars and truck of the world”.
l Loss of habitat for animals living in the forests.
l Climate change (respiration cycle disturbed = irregular rainfall, temperature increase)
Statistic: Deforestation in forests
l Every second: Slightly more than 1 acre of forests is cleared (43,560 square feet = 4 046 square meters).
l Every day: 100,000 acres (4,356,000,000 square feet = 404 685 642 square meters)
l Every Year: 34,000,000 acres (an area the size of Greece)
l Only half of the forests exists, which we had 300 years ago.
Deforestation Purpose
l Farmland
l planting agriculture
l Cattle (ranches)
Causes of deforestation:
- Failure to reach a global agreement to put a price on carbon (emission).
- Corruption/ignorance to existing laws designed to prevent deforestation
Significant Idea: Industries/communities values economic profit over preservation of forests. (Leading to deforestation)Deforestation leads to multiple climate crises:
Major countries for deforestations: (mostly tropical and subtropical countries) Brazil, Indonesia.
l World Resources Institute: satellite data shows over 60 percent of deforestation in the world occurs in Brazil and Indonesia.
Brazil:
Deforestation purpose: 20% of Amazon is already destroyed for cattle and crops
Amazon
l “Lungs of the Earth” = conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen
l Home for uncountable amount/species of organisms.
l Uncivilized natives become hard to sustain themselves (continue tradition etc.)
Indonesia
Deforestation purpose: palm oil plantation.
l 80% of palm oil of the world comes from Indonesia and Malaysia.
l 88% of the forests is destroyed illegally, usually i protected land
Why palm oil plantation?
Brings massive economic profit (billions of dollars revenue), since it is used for:
l Food
l Biodiesel fuel
l Provides job for workers
l Bear fruit for 30 years (long term continuous profit)
It is believed that biodiesel fuel decrease the amount of carbon emission by using less fossil fuel mixture, but actually through calculation, the deforestation to make palm oil plantation has far more carbon emissions.
Palm oil plantation (deforestation) leads to habitat loss for living organisms.
Orangutan:
l Lose habitat
l Decrease of population (endangered)
l Animal abuse (getting shot, sold or put in cages)
Despite these problems: Indonesian official policy calls for tripling of palm oil plantation by 2020. (Major concern)
Dr.Willie Smits:
Rainforests have self-perpetuating water cycle:
- Water transpires from trees and vegetation
- Condenses into clouds
- Falls down wind
Deforestation breaks this cycle, resulting in:l Increased temperatures
l Decreased rainfall
l Irregular rainfall.
In inverse,
Reforestation helps restore the natural rain-cycle.
By reforestation it benefits for:
l Restoration of natural rain-cycle
l Decreased temperatures
l Provide habitat for organisms (orangutan)
l Provide jobs locally
l Plantation of some agriculture (placed crops between trees)
n Reduce competition between trees: fastens reforestation
n Brings agricultural profit
The Sixth Great Extinction
50% ~ 90% of all species on Earth is found in forests.
Deforestation destroys habitat for organisms
Shrink in animal species effect other species (chain-reaction)
Unusual rich reserves of biodiversity (forests) are being destroyed as animal habitat shrinks = Sixth Great Extinction
Economy:
- A hectare (2.5 acres) of trees = 300$ profit
- Destruction of 1 hectare of land (trees) = 15,000$ worth of carbon released into atmosthpere.
Vulnerability:2.5 °C(4.5 °F) rise in temperature:
l Forests lose ability as net absorbers of CO2
l Become net contributors of CO2
Already started to occur in the world.
Canada and the U.S are major examples
l Unbalanced species (Beetles) à destroy more trees as it is not held back by sufficient amount of cold days (due to rise of temperature)
l Increased wild fire rates – warmer temperature reduce soil moisture and expose trees to drought and beetles.
Benefits for decreasing deforestation:
l Decrease CO2 emission
l Preservation of Earth’s biodiversity
l Reduce temperature extremes
l Provide income – when managed properly
l Reduce soil erosion
l Enhance availability of clean water
l Prevent desertification
l Protect against coastal erosion
l Control avalanches
l Provide habitat for wildlife
Major points highlighted according to this note relevance (details this note contains)
Changing Deforestation Patterns
Less-developed countries earn from profits made by the clearance of forests.
Wealthier countriesàprovide aid to less-developed countries to reduce poverty and other issues in exchange of deforestation.